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May 26, 1964 B|RH E Re. 25,585

SELF-CONTAINED PUSH BUTTON APPLICATOR Original Filed June 12, l959 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS HERBERT M. BIRCH DAN/EL. H. GATTONE BY WATTORNEY May 26, 1964 H. M. BIRCH ETAL SELF-CONTAINED PUSH BUTTONAPPLICATOR Original Filed June 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 if E? I"II/11111111111 INVENTORS HERBERT M. fi/Rch DAN/EL GATTONE BY Al MATTORNEY United States Patent SELF-CONTAINED PUSH BUTTON APPLICATORHerbert M. Birch, 5605 Midwood Road, Bethesda, Md.,

and Daniel H. Gattone, Bethesda, Md. (4409 Dermond Ave., Drexel Hill,Pa.)

Original No. 2,998,822, dated Sept. 5, 1961, Ser. N0. 819,964, June 12,1959. Application for reissue Aug. 21, 1963, Ser. No. M13964 6 Claims.(Cl. 132-116) Matter enclosed in heavy brackets appears in the originalpatent but forms no part of this reissue specification; matter printedin italics indicates the additions made by reissue.

The present invention relates to a push-button control applicator meansfor discharge of the contents from a disposable pressurized unit, and isan improvement of our prior co-pending application Serial No. 653,147,filed April 16, 1957, now abandoned.

Heretofore many arrangements have been devised to apply shampoo, hairtonic, hair grooming compositions, medications, cosmetics and the liketo the hair, scalp or face, for example by actual application with thehands, by gravity discharging applicators and by squeeze-typecontainers. Each of these applicating means and methods is satisfactoryonly because no other more eflicient means and less messy manner ofapplication is known to the users.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel more efficient andeffective system and apparatus for applying ingredients, compositionsand the like to the hair, scap or face of a person.

Another object is to provide in combination an assembled self-containeddevice operable as a unit, comprised of an applicator with aself-contained disposable pressurized cartridge manually under controlof the user himself, such assembled unit for example including a hairbrush, scalp treating or shampoo device, comb, facial pad or the like.

Another object is to provide a novel pressurized cartridge per se with ametered valve for insertion in a portion of a novelly formed applicatormember.

A further object is to provide in combination an applicator, such as ahair brush, comb or facial pad formed with a cartridge chamber, and apressure loaded cartridge with an axially movable meter valvearrangement adapted to be manually opened by a push button to supply ametered quantity of the cartridge contents to the applicator while it isbeing used.

Still a further object is to provide, in combination, an applicator witha self-contained pressure loaded cartridge and a push-button controloperating arrangement therefor, wherein said push-button control ispositioned in the end of the handle so as not to be accidentallyoperated during use.

With these and other objects in view, the present novel system andapparatus consists in the novel construction, arrangement, andcombination of parts described in the following specification andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein three embodiments ofthis invention are disclosed, as means to practice the same.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like partson the figures:

FIGURE 1 is a longitudinal cross-section view of one form of applicator,namely a hair brush, illustrating the aerosol self-contained cartridgeand the .manual pushbutton control therefor;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the aerosol cartridge per so with themeter valve system;

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal cross-section view of a second embodiment ofthe invention, illustrating a comb in place of the brush of FIGURES land 2;

FIGURE 5 is a bottom plan view of the comb of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal cross-section view of a facial applicator;and

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings and first with reference to FIGURE 1, there isdisclosed a brush A with a handle 10 and a head 11 having a solid backportion 12 and a front bristle portion 13. The material of the brush ispreferably of plastic, such as Lucite or some acrylic resin product andthe handle 10 is bored and counterbored through into the head portion 11to provide a duct 14 in the head and a relatively larger bore in thehandle to provide a cartridge chamber 15. Leading olf from the duct 14is a relatively smaller duct 16, which opens into the flat front face ofbristle portion 13, see FIGURE 2.

The junction between the duct 14 and the chamber 15 provides an annularshoulder 17. This shoulder serves as an abutment for an operatingelement 22 formed on valve stem 21 of a replaceable and disposableaerosol or pressurized cartridge B, see FIGURE 3, filled with anysuitable composition, such as shampoo, tonic, hair grooming cream, orfacial liquid, cream or lotion. The cartridge B includes the usualspring closed valve 30 and the spring of said valve may be compressedwhen the pinched or bulged portion 22 on the movable hollow valve stem21 is forced against the abutment 17, that is, when the cartridge body Bis moved forward by a pushbutton or push-stud 23 formed on the free endof the cartridge B, see FIGURES 13. This push-button or push-stud 23projects from the apertured end of a cap 24 and is freely reciprocablein said end cap 24, which is threadedly mounted on the end of the hollowhandle 10.

Any suitable meter type valve arrangement may be used, such as thatillustrated and described in our copending application Serial No.647,352, filed March 20, 1957, now Patent No. 2,872,923, or such asillustrated in Patent No. 2,746,796, granted May 22, 1956, or in PatentNo. 2,721,010. Also, if desired a valve, such as disclosed in our PatentNo. 2,788,784, issued April 16, 1957, may be used.

The end of the handle 10 is formed with threads 31 to receive thethreads 32 of the cap 24, said cup being formed with an opening forextension therethrough of the push member or extension 23. This cap 24is removable to permit the insertion and removal of an aerosol cartridgeB when desired. Such cartridges thus are replaceable when empty andinterchangeable and may be loaded with many different kinds of tonics,shampoos, medications and the like. Also, if desired the cartridges maybe used independently, that is, without any applicator by manuallypushing in the valve stem 21 by pushing on the element 22 formed onvalve stem 21.

GENERAL OPERATION When it is desired to use the brush A for a hairgrooming operation, the same is loaded with an aerosol cartridge Bfilled with a desired hair groom or tonic by unscrewing the cap 24 andinserting the same so the element 22 rests on the abutment 17 with thevalve stem 21 extending beyond the abutment 17 into the duct 14. Thenthe cap 24 is replaced on the end of the handle with the extension 23extending through the cap opening.

Now when the brush is used, it may be used as a normal brush or if thehair is dry and needs grooming or tonic, then the push-button 23 ismanually pressed, and the spring of valve 30 is compressed by theoperating element 22 and abutment or shoulder 17, thereby opening thevalve for the meter chamber of the meter valve system, to discharge ametered or predetermined dosage of tonic or the like from the aerosolcartridge under pressure into the ducts 1425 and out of port 16 onto theusers head and possibly onto a portion of the bristles of the brush. Thebrush is then used in the usual manner and if desired the push-button 23may be pushed and repushed to discharge another metered amount of hairgroom, tonic or the like.

The same general arrangement may be provided for a comb as illustratedin FIGURE 4. For example, a comb C with the usual teeth 32 is shown,said comb having a back portion 33 formed with a duct 34 leading from ahandle 35 internally bored identically to the handle of the brush shownin FIGURES 1 and 2, to provide a cartridge chamber 35*. The comb teeth32 at the apices thereof are each formed therebetween with a dischargeorifice 36 opening from the duct 34. Thus when the spring closed metervalve 37 is actuated the pressurized treating medium is ejected fromthese orifices between the comb teeth onto the hair and scalp. The hairmay then be combed to provide a well groomed appearance or to receivethe benefits of a medicated tonic or the like.

A third embodiment of the invention is illustrated in connection with afacial applicator D, which comprises a head portion 40 and a handleportion 41 bored in the manner of FIGURES 1 and 2, so as to house apressurized cartridge B of cosmetics, such as facial creams, liquid orlotions. The head portion 40 is preferably tear-drop shaped as shown inFIGURE 7, to thereby permit more efiicient use thereof around the noseand cheeks of the user, for example. The pad material 42 of the portion41 may be of any suitable replaceable throw-away porous material, suchas sponge, foam rubber, multiple layers of cloth or the like. Suchmaterial is removably mounted on the head portion 40 by the use of asoft plastic clamping or retaining ring 42 formed with a lappingretainer flange 43 and a depending annular skirt 44, which skirt isformed with an upturned snap on catch 45. The outer wall of head portion40 around its upper peripheral edge is formed with a complementaryreversely directed catch 46, so that the ring 42 when pushed downwardover the facial padding will cause catches 45 and 46 to snap-locktogether.

The head portion 40 is formed with a duct 47 and a plurality ofdischarge ducts 48, which direct the pressurized discharge of facialliquids, lotions and creams against the underside of the padding, tothereby saturate and filter therethrough to the outer face engagingsurface of the padding.

The meter valve 49 of the cartridge B" for this unit is operated in thesame manner as previously described in connection with the brushapplicator disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2.

Thus there is provided a novel, efficient and economical system forapplying medicaments, tonic, shampoo, beauty [locations] lotions andvarious forms of hair creams and the like to the hair, scalp, or faceunder pressure, which is self-contained and which permitsinterchangeable and/or disposable use of individual novel aerosol orpressurized cartridges. These cartridges are aerosol or pressurizedcontainers, which may be sold as separate refill units and in someinstances may be used without an applicator and may have a manuallycontrolled valve which is either metered or not metered as desired.

Furthermore all old-fashioned bulbs, squeeze bottles and the like areeliminated and replaced by this novel push-button applicator system.

In addition to medicaments, hair tonics and shampoo formulas, thisarrangement is applicable to toothbrush and tooth paste cartridges. Forexample, containers of tooth paste pressurized with an inert gas, suchas nitrogen and the like, may be utilized with a brush means in the samemanner as illustrated in FIGURES l, 2 and 3 of the drawings.

While only a few embodiments of the invention are specifically shown anddescribed in detail, it is to be expressly understood that there may bemany changes made in the forms and shapes of the applicators and thecontainers and in the propellants used without departing from theconcept of this invention.

To determine the scope of the invention, reference should be had to theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, an applicator having a head portion with a pluralityof discharge ducts, a handle connected to said head portion having achamber therein, an annular shoulder defining the juncture of the saidhead portion and said handle and a counterbored reduced conduit in saidhead portion extending from said shoulder to, and communicating withsaid discharge ducts, said applicator having a relatively largercrosssectional area than said handle and said ducts extending laterallywith respect to said counterbored reduced conduit, and a pressurizedcontainer disposed within said chamber having a product to be dischargedthrough said ducts, said container having a valve with a hollow valvestem, said stem having a discharge outlet communicating with saidreduced conduit and said ducts and means engaging said shoulder, saidvalve being normally maintained closed by means of a spring and thepressure in said container, said valve controlling the discharge of thepressurized product from the said pressurized container through saidvalve stem into the said applicator discharge ducts, and a push buttonoperatively associated with said container to move the same projectingfrom an opening in a portion of said handle, whereby the said valve maybe opened against the resistive action of said spring and said containerpressure by movement of said means on said container while said valvestem is engaged with said shoulder in the applicator.

2. Means for topical treatment comprising an applicator with a brushportion having a head portion with a discharge duct, a handle connectedto said head portion of the brush portion having a chamber therein, anannular shoulder defining the juncture of the said head portion and saidhandle and a counterbore reduced conduit in said head portion extendingfrom said shoulder to, and communicating with said discharge duct, saidbrush portion having a relatively larger cross-sectional area than saidhandle and said duct extending laterally with respect to saidcounterbore reduced conduit and terminating in said brush portion, and areplaceable pressurized cartridge disposed within said chamber having aproduct to be discharged through said duct, said can tridge having avalve with a hollow valve stem, said stem having a discharge outletcommunicating with said reduced conduit and said duct and means engagingsaid shoulder, said valve being normally maintained closed by means of aspring and the pressure in said cartridge, said valve controlling thedischarge of the pressurized product from the said pressurized cartridgethrough said valve stem into the said brush discharge duct, and a pushbutton operatively associated with said cartridge to move the sameprojecting from an opening in a portion of said handle, whereby the saidvalve may be opened against the resistive action of said spring and saidcartridge pressure by movement of said means on said cartridge whilesaid valve stem is engaged with said shoulder in the brush.

3. In combination, a comb having a head portion with a plurality ofdischarge ducts terminating between the respective teeth of the comb, ahandle connected to said head portion having a chamber therein, anannular shoulder defining the juncture of the said head portion and saidhandle and a counterbored reduced conduit in said head portion extendingfrom said shoulder to, and communicating with said discharge ductsbetween the comb teeth, and said ducts extending laterally with respectto said counterbored reduced conduit, and a disposable pressurizedcontainer disposed within said chamber having a product to be dischargedthrough said ducts outwardly between the comb teeth, said containerhaving a valve with a hollow valve stem, said stem having a dischargeoutlet communicating with said reduced conduit and said ducts and meansengaging said shoulder, said valve being normally maintained closed bymeans of a spring and the pressure in said container, said valvecontrolling the discharge of the pressurized product from the saidpressurized container through said valve stem into the said combdischarge ducts, and a push buttton operatively associated with saidcontainer to move the same projecting from an opening in a portion ofsaid handle, whereby the said valve may be opened against the resistiveaction of said spring and said container pres sure by movement of saidmeans on said container while said valve stem is engaged with saidshoulder in the said head portion of the comb.

4. In combination, an applicator having a tear-drop shaped head portionwith a plurality of discharge ducts, a covering of porous materialsecured over said ducts, a handle connected to said head portion havinga chamber therein, an annular shoulder defining the juncture of the saidhead portion and said handle and a counterbored reduced conduit in saidhead portion extending from said shoulder to, and communicating withsaid discharge ducts, said applicator having a relatively largercross-sectional area than said handle and said ducts extending laterallywith respect to said counterbored reduced conduit, and a pressurizedcontainer disposed within said chamber having a product to be dischargedthrough said ducts, said container having a valve with a hollow valvestem, said stem having a discharge outlet communicating with saidreduced conduit and said ducts and means engaging said shoulder, saidvalve being normally maintained closedby means of a spring and thepressure in said container, said valve controlling the discharge of thepressurized product from the said pressurized container through saidvalve stem into the said applicator discharge ducts and into the saidporous covering, and means operatively associated with said container tomove the same projecting from an opening in a portion of said handle,whereby the said valve may be opened against the resistive action ofsaid spring and said container pressure by movement of said means onsaid container while said valve stem is engaged with said shoulder inthe applicator.

5. In combination, an applicator having a head portion with [a pluralityof discharge ducts] discharge duct means, a handle connected to saidhead portion having a chamber therein, an annular shoulded defining thejuncture of the said head portion and said handle and a counterboredreduced conduit in said head portion extending from said shoulder to,and communicating with said discharge [ducts] duct means, saidapplicator having a relatively larger cross-sectional area than saidhandle and] said [ducts] duct means extending laterally with respect tosaid counterbored reduced conduit, and a pressurized container disposedwithin said chamber having a product to be discharged through said[ducts] duet means, said container having an axially movable meter valvewith a hollow valve stem, said stem having a discharge outletcommunicating with said reduced conduit and said [ducts] duct means andan intermediate relatively wider [pinched] portion engaging saidshoulder, said valve being normal] maintained closed by means of aspring and the pressui in said container, said valve controlling thedischarge the pressurized product from the said pressurized co: tainerthrough said valve stem into the said applicatt discharge [ducts] ductmeans, and a push button ope atively associated with said container tomove the san projecting from an opening in a portion of said hand]whereby the said valve may be opened against the I'CSlSllll action ofsaid spring and said container pressure by mov ment of said [means] pushbutton on said container whi said wider [pinched] portion of said valvestem is engage with said shoulder in the applicator to supply a meterfiquantity of the container contents to the applicator fro] said hollowvalve stem into said [ducts] duct means.

6. In combination, an applicator having a head portic with [a pluralityof discharge ducts] discharge du means, a handle connected to said headportion having chamber therein, an annular shoulder defining the junture of the said head portion of said handle and a COl-l] terboredreduced conduit in said head portion extendir from said shoulder to, andcommunicating with sa [discharge ducts] duct means, [said applicatorhaving relatively larger cross-sectional area than said hand and] said[ducts] duct means extending laterally with r spect to said counterboredreduced conduit, and a se] contained pressurized disposable containerdisposed with said chamber having a product to be discharged throug said[ducts] duct means, said container having a val with a hollow valvestem, said stem having a dischar outlet communicating with said reducedconduit and sa [ducts] duct means and [an intermediate enlargement saidstem having means for engaging said shoulder, sa valve being normallymaintained closed by means of spring and the pressure in said container,said valve co trolling the discharge of the pressurized product from t]said pressurized container through said valve stem into t1 saidapplicator [discharge ducts] duct means, and mea: operatively associatedwith said container to move tl same projecting from an opening in aportion of sa handle, whereby the said valve may be opened against t]resistive action of said spring and said container pressu by movement ofsaid means [on] operatively aSSOCiGfl with said container while [saidenlargement on] the e gaging means of said valve stem is engaged with sashoulder in the applicator.

References Cited in the file of this patent or the original patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 753,968 Farmer Mar. 8, 191 2,295,746 Metzler Sept.15, 19 2,617,431 Gaspari Nov. 11, 19: 2,756,908 Miller July 31, 19;2,788,925 Ward Apr. 16, 19; 2,790,190 Mastrandrea Apr. 30, 19. 2,914,222Meshberg Nov. 24, 19. 3,021,850 Smith et al Feb. 20, 19| 3,094,130Wiener June 18, 19|

FOREIGN PATENTS 822,718 Germany Nov. 26, 19.

